I think tuning one day and rebuilding another make sense for efficiency, but I'm thinking tune a few pianos and then finish the day in the shop... David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, California ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "J. R. White" <jrwhiteltd at msn.com> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org> Received: 3/30/2006 12:31:22 PM Subject: RE: Time Management: Shop work and tuning appointments. >I do not refinish. The reason is risk. I know too many fine refinishing >shops in my area that ended up in a fireball. Not to be too grim about it, >but one should consider this, I think. Every experienced refinisher I have >known, and used, in over thirty years in this business, has his shop away >from his home for just this reason. If the shop explodes, the home remains >intact. Also, business insurance for refinishing is different than business >insurance for acoustical-mechanical repairs. One can be covered for either >activity without being covered for the other. >As far as scheduling goes, I tune one day, do shopwork the next. It's less >of a rut. >Take care. >Ross White >jrwhiteltd at msn.com >(253) 922-2372 >-----Original Message----- >From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf >Of Phil Bondi >Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 2:39 AM >To: Newtonville >Subject: Time Management: Shop work and tuning appointments. >Hi all. >I'll try to be as thorough as possible for my situation: >My business is reaching a point where I need to make a decision on how >to handle the increased shop work and keep my stable of tuning clients. >The question is: >For those of you, like myself, who work alone, how do you handle your >time for the shop and the tuning clients? >My shop is now located here at my home (well, almost). That scenario has >changed in the last month. My shop use to be away from my home, but now >it's here. That's a biggie for me, since now I can just go down to the >shop and do some work without worrying about how dirty I might get >working in a shop and then going to see my clients..or vice versa. >Here's my thought on what may work for me: >Since I am an early riser, I'm thinking that I could use those early >morning hrs. to my advantage in the shop. My mind is usually freshest >when I first wake up (yes, I have a mind!) and then schedule tuning >appointments in the late morning/afternoon. The reason I feel this >scenario might work for me is because I tend to think that "when I come >home, I'm done" for the day..so if I schedule appointments in the >morning knowing that shop work still awaits me, I may not get as much >done once I 'get home'. >I have been in this business for almost 10 years now, and I have felt >this evolution coming for awhile - now it's here - my shop is almost >completely moved from its old location to the new one - shop work will >continue to make its way towards me - and I tune on average 4 a day. >Also, I don't want Ruth to feel she's married to a business. Her >happiness is very important to me. She understands this is going to be >an evolution process, and I have no intention of leaving her out of this >loop. We need time together, of course. She is not the early riser that >I am. I make a great cup of coffee!! >Anyway, the shop work is going to increase even more this summer/fall >when I plan to introduce refinishing and touch-up to my shop skills. I'm >not there yet, but I plan on being there fairly soon. Some have said to >me: "Why do you want to learn refinishing?" - because there is a huge >need for it in this area (and I suspect alot of other areas also), and >learning this art will keep me in the shop and off the roads. I have had >to turn down alot of work over the years because I have not felt >comfortable charging people for refinishing when I know my skills are >not where "I" want them to be. Those of you that have been in that >business know how to treat a finish by looking and touching a piece. I >admire that skill. It is my intention to have the ability to approach >that level of competency in the near future, with of course, continuing >education in that field. >So - if you're still reading and wish to comment and make a >recommendation, I welcome it. I could have gone private with this, >seeking advice from past trusted sources, but there is such a wealth of >knowledge here in this forum that I do not want to leave out anyone who >might offer a scenario that could be beneficial to me..and others. >-Phil Bondi(Fl)
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